Toni Remick

Owner of Tails and Topknots in Olathe, Kansas

Toni Remick is changing the way pet care is delivered in Kansas City. Her mobile grooming company, Tails and Topknots, caters to dogs with special grooming needs — in every sense, meeting people's pets where they are. 

Starting her own business wasn’t originally on Toni's road map. But after nearly two years as an employee in a grooming salon, Toni realized that she could do better for herself and her clients’ beloved fur babies. "You put a lot of trust in someone when you hand over your pet," she says. So, she set out to earn that trust with her own grooming business. 

Toni decided to go mobile after hearing horror stories about leasing brick-and-mortar salon spaces. She learned about companies that do van conversions for mobile grooming. When she looked into having a van outfitted for her business, she thought, “Wow, I could actually make this happen." Her plan came together almost instantly — she registered her business on Oct. 4, left her day job on Oct. 30, and had her van ready by Halloween. She pampered her first client in mid-November. 

With so much to do so quickly, Toni knew she needed financial help. She turned to DreamSpring for a $5,000 loan, which covered her startup costs. “DreamSpring really did help me. I know $5,000 is considered a pretty small business loan, but that paid for me, wrapping my van, and putting my logo on, which is my biggest source of advertising,” she says. 

Besides finding the process easy and straightforward, Toni discovered surprising benefits to partnering with DreamSpring. “The support really meant so much to me,” she says, describing working closely with her loan officer and never needing to worry about hidden fees or fine print. "It’s been a huge relief, and I’m so grateful for the peace of mind that comes with having working capital to keep me going until I can build everything up." 

Now Toni is focused on growing her business. Tails and Topknots uses a system that’s FDA-approved for micro-bubble skin therapy, which has made a world of difference for dogs with severe allergies and alopecia. Toni is in the process of becoming an International Certified Master Groomer and the first certified grooming salon in Kansas.  

Toni is also passionate about elevating the grooming industry. "Anyone can pick up clippers and watch a few videos and call themselves a groomer. But without that regulation, there's a lot of misinformation,” she says.  

Toni is teaching pet owners about the difference in experience and education that certification can make. She hopes to make quality grooming services more affordable and accessible to senior citizens, who constitute a significant number of her clients. “I’ve got dreams,” she says. 

A few short months ago, Toni couldn’t imagine being her own boss, making positive changes for the animals and industry she holds dear. "I never would have believed I could make this happen. And now here I am,” she says. “It wouldn’t have been able to happen if it wasn’t for DreamSpring."